Concrete wall form



Nov. 3, 1964 s. M. KIMBALL 3,154,833

CONCRETE WALL FORM Filed Dec. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Yr MAN Nov. 3,1964 s. M. KIMBALL coNcRamwALL FORM 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec, 6, 1962INVENTR 57m/VL EYMA//MEA LL ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1964 Filed Dec. 6, 1962 S.M. KIMBALL CONCRETE WALL FORM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 57AA/LfYMA//MB/IL L BYWZ wgdah ITUENEZS' Nov. 3, 1964 s. M. KIMBALL3,154,333

CONCRETE WALL FORM Filed Dec. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fia. 4

u Q& e u o o a u o o u o o a o u c o o o a o 5 G C O c O c D Q D Q O 0 0C o c O u e c c o o o a o o e o o o a a o o o o u n a o o o a o o a a ao n o o o o a a o a n o n o e o o u e o o 0 c c 0 O 0 D O n u i u 0 0 oo c a o o u e o o c o a u o a a o o a o a o o o o u o u u o D c o v o oQ o o a a o o o o c u e a 57/VYM//MBL o o e a c c O O O C Q O o o D u Bu c o o o G a c o n a a a o o o c o o o o o o o o n o u a a o a o n o fpo6; a a c u a o o a o n 4 u Qyjy TTORIYE'YS United States Patent 3,i54,33 CGNCRETE WALL EGEM Stanley ivi. Kimball, Ztl-Zd Milvia St., Berkeley,Calif. Filed Dee. 6, 1%2, Ser. No. 242,863 1t? Qlaims. tl. 25-l31) Thisinvention relates to and in general has for its object the provision ofa concrete wall form made up of standard components yarranged to bemagnetically secured and which can be readily assembled, disassembledand reused.

Normally, each side of a concrete wall form is made by erecting woodenstuds along one of the lines of the concrete wall to be poured andnailing sheathing boards to the studs. Spacers disposed between the twoparallel walls so formed serve to retain the walls in parallelism whilethe concrete is being poured and during the initial curing periodthereof. When the concrete has set, the forms are dismantled, and inthis process are subjected to considerable damage. Many of thecomponents are therefore not suitable for reuse. Furthermore, theerection of forms of this character requires the services of skilledlabor.

More specifically, one or" the objects of this invention is theprovision of a fabricated aluminum alloy girder provided along itslength with permanent magnets and armatures spaced on a predeterminedmodulus so that a plurality of such girders can be magnetically securedin a grid formation to serve as supporting structure for the sheathingof -a concrete wall form.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a sheath sectionprovided on its surface with a grid pattern of armatures wherein thearmatures are spaced in both directions on a modulus identical to thespacing of the magnets and armatures of the girders.

A further object of this invention is the provision, in combination witha grid of the character above described, of a clip for mechanicallysecuring the cross members of the grid against sliding movement over itsupright mem bers.

Still another object of this invention is the provision, in combinationwith a grid structure of the character above described, of struts orbracing members for securing the grid in an upright position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a girder of thecharacter above described having notched or odset ends whereby the endsof two of such girders can be lap-joined to form an extended ghder.

The invention possesses other `advantageous features, some of which,with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the followingdescription where that form of the invention which has been selected forillustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thepresent specification is outlined in full. In said drawings, one form ofthe invention is shown, but it is to be understood that it is notlimited to such form, since the invention -as set forth in the claimsmay be embodied in other forms.

Referring to the drawings:

FG. l is a fragmentary end elevation of a concrete form embodying theobjects of my invention yand wherein portions thereof are broken yawayand other portions thereof shown in section. Y

PEG. 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. l.

FlG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the structure FIG. 7 is a plan ofa section of plywood sheathing provided with magnet armatures.

FIG. 8 is la fragmentary front elevational detail of one of the magnetand armature assemblies.

The forms illustrated in FGS. l, 2 and 3 include a first set of spaced,parallel upright girders (strongbacks or studs) generally designated bythe lreference numeral i and a second set of spaced parallel girders(walers) overlying said lirst set of girders at right angles thereto andgenerally designated by the reference numeral 2, but which preferablyare identical to the girders l.

Conveniently, each of the girders 1 and Z is made up of a pair ofidentical, spaced parallel aluminum alloy channels 3 and 4 facing awayfrom each other md held in spaced relation with each other by -anintervening perma nent cylindrical bar magnet generally designated bythe reference numeral 5 and by a rectangular soft iron armature andspreader 6. Both the magnet S and the armature 6 are cemented orotherwise bonded to each other and to their associated girders l and 2.

As best shown in FIG. 8, each magnet 5 is encased in a cylindrical shell7 of nonferrous metal. The corresponding ends (north poles, for example)of the magnets are iiush with one face of their associated girder withtheir axes normal to the length of the girder. The armature contiguousto each magnet has one of its faces flush with the opposite side of thegirder. All of the magnets are identical and likewise all of thearmatures are identical.

As best indicated in PEG. 3, the ends of the channels 3 and 4l making upeach of the girders il and 2 are longitudinally offset as at 8 so thattwo such girders can be placed end to end in a lap joint land rigidlyconnected by a spacing bolt 9.

Connecting each pair of channels 3 and i of each of the girders atpoints midway each pair of magnets and armatures is a bolt 1i. Since thebolts il are located midway each pair of magnets, they `are spaced onthe same modulus as are the magnets.

lf the girders used as uprights are spaced on this same modulus, and thegirders used `as the cross members of the structure me spaced `on thismodulus the magnets of the cross members can be made to register withthe armatures of the upright member, or vice versa, to thus magneticallyhold the uprights and cross members in -a rectangular or square gridarrangement.

The girders above described constitute one of the basic components of mywall form.

The second ybasic component of this form consists of a rectangularsection i2 of plywood or the like, the width and length of which aremultiples of the above stated modulus (FIG. 7). Embedded over thesurface of the section l2 in square pattern are soft iron armatures25.3, likewise located on the above stated modulus.

As a result of this construction, such section ft2 can be placed overthe iirst set of upright girders with the arma tures 13 of the sectionsl2 in registration and magnetic contact with the magnets 5 of theupright girders.

Although considerable force is required to pull an armature away hom itsassociated magent, considerably less force is required to slide one ofthese members over the other. Since the cross girders of a formstructure of the character above described are often used to climb on,it is essential to provide a mechanical interlock between the crossgirders and the upright girders. The third component of my concrete wallform therefore consists of the spring clips generally designated by thereference numeral 14 (FIG. l). Y

Each of the clips i4 is conveniently made of spring steel wire andincludes a straight vertical section 15 arranged to overlie the outerside of one of the cross girders 2. The section 15 terminates at itslower end` in an right girders.

inwardly and upwardly bent catch 16 arranged to be clipped or sprungover the outer, downwardly extending tiange ot the lower channel d ofthe cross girder. The upperV end of the clip section 15 merges with aninclined section 15a terminating in an open hook 18 arranged to beYhooked over one of the bolts 11. In applying the clip 14 it is iirsthooped over the bolt 11 and then its catch 16 is forced over the lowerouter ange of the cross girder.

The 'fourth component of -my wall structure consists of longitudinallyadjustable struts or braces generally designated by the referencenumeral 17 (FIGS. 3, 4 and used, as best shown in FIG. 3, to support thewallV form structure in an upright position.

More specifically each of the struts 17 includes a pair of telescopingtubular sections 18 and 19 arranged to be locked together in any angularand longitudinally adjusted position relative to each by a set screw 21.Formed on the free-end of each of the sections 18 and 19 is an angularlyoitset dat 22 and provided in each iat 22 is a transverse notch 23.

Mounted on a plank 24 or other suitable base member are a plurality ofpairs of spaced angles 25 and 26, and extending across the upstandinglegs of each pair of angles is a pin or bolt 27. As best shown in FIG.3, the plank 24 is spaced from the wall form in parallelism therewith,and the pairs of angles Z5 and 25 .are spaced along the plank on thesame modulus used for spacing the magnets and armatures 5 and 6, or somemultiple thereof. Each pair of angles 25 and 26 should be located on aline normal to the plane of the wall form and bisecting a line joiningtwo adjacent pairs of upright girders. With plank 24 and its angles 25and 26 so arranged relative to the upright girders 1, the upper iiat 22of one of the struts 17 can be hooked over one of the girder bolts 11and its lower at can be hooked over the pin or bolt 27 of the pair ofangles 25' and'26. Since each strut 17 is made from the two telescopingsections 18 and 19, it can be adjusted lengthwisek as required, and theangularityY of the strut flats 22 can be adjusted to bring them intoparallelism with the upright girders. In this fashion the wall form canbe braced in an upright position, all as indicated in FIG. 3.

One preferred sequence of steps in erecting my wall form is first tolocate the desired line of the concrete wall to be poured. The plank 24Vor other base member is then properly located relative to this line. Atleast some of the upright girders are then positioned adjacent the wallline and braced by the struts 17 as above described. Following this, thecross girders are positioned over the upright girders with the magentsand armatures thereof in magnetic engagement with each other. I'heremain- 'mg upright girders can be erected and then the cross girdersmechanically locked to the upright girders by use of the spring clips14, all as above described. This having been done, the sheath sections12 are placed against the faces of the uprightgirders with the armatures13 thereof in magnetic engagement with the magnets 5 of the uf*- GtherYsequences are of course possible.

A complete form is of course formed by two spaced, opposed wall forms ofthe character above described, this being shown in FIG. 2. Y

Following .conventional practice, tie rods or wires 31 are strungbetween and through the two opposed sheathing sections and securedeither to these sections or to the cross girders as shown in FIG. 2 andreinforcing rods 32 placed in position.

Although the upright and cross girders 1 and Zihave been illustrated anddescribed as being made up of aV pair of opposed channels,otherstrnctural forms such as bars, angles, I and `H beams can of coursebe used yfor this purpose.V The essential factor here is that a girderof some sort be provided at equal spaced pointswith pergirders can bepositioned end to end and spliced in a lap joint.

Also, it is to be noted that metal sheathing can be used in place ofwooden sheathing. If light-gauge steel sheathing is used, there is ofcourse no need for providing such sheathing with spaced armatures. Thejustication of using metal sheathing depends upon the life thereof asagainst the life of wooden sheathing.

By resorting to the standard wall form components abovejdescrioed, wallforms of any `desired height and length can be easily erected byunskilled labor. The modular disposition of the magnets and armaturespermits the upright and cross girders to be definitely and readilylocated relative to each other and held in place without the necessityof measuring or nailing. In a sense the magnets and armatures'serve asmeans for keying the uprights and cross members to each other only atpredetermined points. Since the girder bolts 11 are all located on apredetermined modulus, and since the spring clips 14 are all standard,it is possible to apply them only at predetermined points for thepurpose of mechanically locking the cross girders to the uprights attheir points of intersection. In short, there is only one readilyapparent way of erecting the various components of my wall form.

Another advantage of a wall form of this kind is that it can be readilydismantled without damage to its components and then such components canbe reused many times. i

I claim:

l. A nonferrous metal girder having at least one pair of opposedparallel sides; a Vplurality of permanent magnets iixed to said girderat spaced points thereon on a predetermined modulus; a plurality ofarmatures fixed to said girder immediately adjacent said magnets, saidarmatures being ilush with one of said sides and the ends of saidmagnets being Hush with the opposite side of said girder.

2. A girder of the character set forth in claim 1 having notched ends sothat two such girders can be lapjoined end to end to formY an elongatedgirder having continuous sides.

3. A nonferrous metal girder comprising: a pair of spaced, parallelstructural members having at least one pair of opposed parallel sides,soft iron armatures secured to and between said structural members, saidarmatures being spaced on a predetermined modulus with one side of eacharmature ush with one of the said sides of said girder; and a permanentbar magnet fixed to said girder immediately adjacent each of saidarmatures, the correspending ends of said magnets being ush with theother of said sides of said girder, the axes of said magnets beingnormal to said parallel sides. Y

4. A girder of the character set forth in claim 3 including boltsextending through said structural members, said bolts being disposedmidway between each adjacent pair of magnets.

5. A girder of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein the adjacentends of said structural members are staggered so that two such girderscan be lap-joined end to end to form a girder of extended length.

6. A girder comprising: a pair of opposed, vsubstantially identicalaluminum alloy channels disposed in spaced parallelism with each other,the corresponding sides of said channels being coplanar `andthe websthereof being opposed to each other; permanent magnets disposed betweenand secured to said channels on Va predetermined modulus with theircorresponding ends flush with one pair of coplanar sides of said girdersso thatVV nets, said ,bolts being spaced on saidY predetermined]`modulus. K Y j Y t 7. A rectangular grid structure for a concrete wallform, comprising: a rst set of spaced, parallel nonerrous metal girderseach having at least one pair of opposed parallel sides; a plurality ofpermanent magnets xed to each of said girders at spaced points thereonon a predetermined modulus; a plurality of armatures fixed to each ofsaid girders immediately adjacent said magnets, said armatures being ushwith one of said sides of each of said girders and the ends of saidmagnets being ush with the opposite side thereof; and a second set ofsaid girders overlying said first set normal thereto, and with themagnets thereof in magnetic engagement with the armatures of said rstset of girders.

8. A rectangular structure of 'die character set forth in claim 7wherein each girder of said rst set of girders 15 is fastened to one ofthe girders of said other set of gil-ders by a spring clip.

9. A rectangular structure of the character set forth in claim 7including a section of sheathing overlying said grid structure andprovided with a plurality of armatures, said armatures being spaced onsaid predetermined modulus; the armatures of said sheathing being inmagnetic engagement with the magnets of said rst set of said girders.

l0. A rectangular structure of the character set forth in claim 9wherein the armatures of the sheathing are 10 arranged in a rectangulargrid pattern.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,640,997 Hollister Aug. 30, 1927 2,374,300 Oldreive Apr. 24, 19452,736,937 Knapp Mar. 6, 1956

1. A NONFERROUS METAL GIRDER HAVING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF OPPOSEDPARALLEL SIDES; A PLURALITY OF PERMANENT MAGNETS FIXED TO SAID GIRDER ATSPACED POINTS THEREON ON A PREDETERMINED MODULUS; A PLURALITY OFARMATURES FIXED TO SAID GIRDER IMMEDIATELY AJACENT SAID MAGNETS, SAIDARMATURES BEING FLUSH WITH ONE OF SAID SIDES AND THE